I Mobster *** (1959, Steve Cochran, Lita Milan, Robert Strauss, Celia Lovsky, John Brinkley, John Mylong) – Classic Movie Review 6147

Director Roger Corman’s lively and lusty 1959 film noir crime drama movie I Mobster is your usual version of that usual, well-known yarn, used again in 1992 in Billy Bathgate and Mobsters, about a poor kid called Joe Sante (played by Steve Cochran) who rises to become top mobster and falls again.

However, this mob thriller is maybe a little more vigorous than some, thanks to Cochran’s charismatic playing and director Corman’s feisty handling. It was Corman’s biggest budgeted production to date at $500,000 and filming started on 14 July 1958, with the premiere on 23 January 1959 ahead of the February release date by 20th Century Fox.

Cochran’s Joe Sante spills the beans in flashback to the Feds about his rise from local bookies’ collector to drugs pusher to crime boss. When he is investigated by the Senate, the mob sends out Black Frankie Udino (Robert Strauss) to eliminate him.

Lita Milan plays his sweet girlfriend Teresa Porter, who loves him even after he has killed her brother Ernie (John Brinkley). John Mylong and Celia Lovsky play his nice, bewildered parents, Mr and Mrs Sante.

Steve Fisher’s screenplay is based on Joseph Hilton Smyth’s novel. I Mobster is shot in black and white and widescreen by Floyd Crosby, produced by Edward L Alperson, Gene Corman and Roger Corman, and scored by Gerald Fried and designed by Daniel Haller.

Also in the cast are Grant Withers as Paul Moran, Yvette Vickers as The Blonde, Robert Shayne as Senator, Wally Cassell as Cherry Nose Sirago (adult), famous burlesque star Lili St Cyr as herself, Jeri Southern as Singer and Frank Gerstle as District Attorney.

I Mobster [The Mobster] is directed by Roger Corman, runs 81 minutes, is made by Edward L. Alperson Productions [Alco Productions], is released by 20th Century Fox (1959) (US) and British Lion Film Corporation (1959) (UK), is written by Steve Fisher, based on Joseph Hilton Smyth’s novel, is shot in black and white and widescreen by Floyd Crosby, is produced by Edward L Alperson, Gene Corman and Roger Corman, is scored by Gerald Fried and Edward L Alperson, with music by Jerry Winn and Edward L Alperson and production design by Daniel Haller.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6147

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Steve Cochran (born Robert Alexander Cochran, May 25, 1917 – June 15, 1965).